Cartridge link manufacture



July 18, 1944. A. E. BoRToN CARTRIDGE LINK MANUFACTURE Filed Dec. 18,1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l 1N: 'EA' TOR. Hilf/,'11 E'. B01 'N111 July 18,1944. A. E. BORTON CARTRIDGE LINK MANUFACTURE Filed Deo. 18, 1941 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Rif 0 T l WM Illl V 0 U ,Eimim v0 Sm SQ .m M .wr Wu 2 A Muw w SS Y d STSN Patented July 18, 1944 Alwyn E. Boi-ton, South Orange,N. J., assignor to Associated Patentees, Inc., Ampere, N. J., acorporation ot New Jersey Application Decemberl, 1941, Serial No.423,467

4 Claims.

The invention here disclosed relates to the manufacture of the links forconnecting machine gun cartridges in belt formation and the presentinvention relates particularly to manufacture of the heavier form oflinks required for the 20 millimeter and other larger size cartridges.

Special objects of the invention are to accomplish rapid production ofthe heavier size cartridge links with the least possible waste ofmaterial and to accomplish these results with machines available at thepresent time and which may be readily altered in design to operate forsuch purposes.

Other desirable objects and the novel feature of invention through whichall objects are attained, are set forth or will appear in the course ofthe following specification. Y The drawings accompanying and forming parof the specification illustrate certain preferred embodiments of theinvention` Structure and operation however, may be modified and changedas regards such disclosure. all within the true intent and broad scopeof the invention as hereinafter defined and claimed.

Fig, l is a top plan or edge View of the pierced, trimmed and initiallypreformed strip stock.

Fig. 2 is a similar view, on enlarged scale, of the rst blank detachedand partly formed as at the first or upper level of the machine.

Fig. 3 is a face view of the strip shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a similar, enlarged View of the blank cut from the end of thestrip and having the cartridge encircling tongues of the same bentvtothe proper curvature, as in Fig. 2. l

Figs. 5 and6 are face and edge Views respectively showing the link withthe curved tongues folded back to the nal relation, as effected at thesecond or lower level of the machine.

Figs. 7 and 8 are broken horizontal cross-sectional views, on the rstand second levels, .as on substantially the planes of lines 1-1 and 8--8of Fig. `9.

Fig. 9 is a broken view of mechanism at the nal forming station withparts appearing ,in section as on substantially the plane of line S-f-S,of Fig. 10.

Fig. 1Y0 is a partial plan view of those parts of the machine requiredto produce the results illustrated in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, that is, fromthe initial punching of the strip to the completed article. 2"'

Figs. 11 and 12 are opposed face views of the companion back and frontdie mechanisms shown in Fig. 10. 1

Fig. 13 is a broken detailof a modication.

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 illustrate successive stages in the conversion of thestrip material I5, to the finished link.

At the rst station, Fig. 3, one pair of punches i8, i6, partiallyoutline the intermediate loop forming tongue portion Il, and edgeflanges i8, of one link blank and a second pair of punches I9, I9,partially outline the end loop forming tongue portions 20, 20, of thenext blank and a narrow intermediate tie 2l, connecting the twoembryonic blanks.

When the strip is advanced to the second station, dies 22, 22', removeunnecessary material from the intermediate loop portion l1, of oneblank, trimming away the sides and end of such portion at 23, 24, andthe ends of the double loop portions 20, of the next blank at 25, 25,also the shoulders of the double loop portions of the blank in advance,at 26, 26.

At the third operating station. the narrow tie strip 2i, betweenadjoining blanks is severed at both ends by a punch 21, and immediatelyfollowing such severance. preforming dies arch the intermediate portionof the single loop forming tongue Il, to the proper curvature for theloop at 28, and bend out the flanges i8, to the desired outwardly angledand longitudinally curved configuration.

At the nal station, Figs. 2 and 4, the single tongue Il, at one side ofthe link and the double tongues 20, 20 at the opposite side of thedetached and partly preformed link are bent to their nal radius,connected by an intermediate narrow and relatively ilat bridge or bodyportion 29, this Work being performed by upper level preformlng tools.

The links, formed to the extent indicated in Figs. 2 and 4, and with theloop portions I1 and 20, 2l), curved to the proper radii, then drop to asecond level, at the final station, where a forked tool coming from theback bends the bridge portion 29, from the flat to the substantiallyarched relation shown in Figs. 5 and 6, thus in effect hinging the twosets of curved, shell embracing loops into the viinal closely connectedrelation shown.

The operations described can all be performed substantiallysimultaneously, or as parts of a single cycle, on the multi-slide"machine of Borton Patent 1,883,513, October 18, 1932.

In my copending application Ser. No. 419,062, led November 14, 1941,more complete details of that machine as redesigned for operations ofthis type are disclosed and in the present illus- Vting punch 21, andflare preformer31, on th'e back slide 38, cooperate withcutoff die 3,9,,1 1dv Similarly,v trimmingfpunches,".22,1-"onfthe Y second back" slide34, coact with corresponding die members, 35, 35, on the second frontblock or anvil 36, at the second station and the cut` E the .bending andaring die 48onthefrontp1pgk "atthethird station e -V n the machine andthe dies lat the front, may be mounted all ona single head block, inwhich event, the supports referredfto as 33, 36 and-4I, would be partsof one and the'same block struc- The stock is sage 42, in the front heador die supporting structure 33, 36, 4I, and as yieldinglyy held at thelower'edge, at the piercing and trimming stations by spring, pressedplungers ,43, 44, 45, Fig; 12 and pressed toward the flare preformingdie 48, by spring plungers- 46, Fig. 10. f `The broken 'lines at theright hand end of Fig. 3, indicate the position of the two blanks vatthe end of the strip prior to severance and at a time when the end'blankhas reached a position in front 'of the stationary forming Ypost 41.cutoff punch 21 operates at a timewhen the end blank is held against thepost by the sliding center piece 48, of thefront tool 49, which then isyieldingly projected toward the post by spring 50, Figs. '1, 9 and 10.'I'he blankwhich then remains attached to the strip, at the third orpreforming station, is thus freeto pull backtothe full line positionunder the foreshortening action of the bending dies without disturbingthe `blank cut off and left at the forming post. e Y The'curving anddouble flaring or anging of the last attached blank at the preformingstation, givesthe blank suicient shape to be readily held by the slide48, set in and'forming part of the front tool, it being' shaped, as`indicated in Fig. '7, to enter between and i'lt the curved flares Aorflangesvll, I8, at theupper and lowerfedges -of the loop forming portionI1. f i- This preliminary bending and"l flaring of the blank also aidsto locate it on the forming'xpost 41, the curved and anged part fittingthe curvature of the rst forming portion I, of the 4post and therebyenabling'the blunt forward end152, of the central tool member 48, tocarry the central portion of the blankinto the correspondingV recess 53,inthe post to formtheintrmediate flat bridge portion 29 ofthe link, Inthis action;

the curved side portions 54,55, respectively conflne' the preformedsingle tongues ofzthelinkto the rst portion 5 I, and bend the doubletongues` 2.0; about the front of the second curved portion 56, of thepost. The main side portionsy51f-'of the front tool, continuingl theaction started lby the central part 48, carry vthe tongues- I1 and 20,20, back around the sides of the formers 5I, 56, in time for thoseportions to be met byand curled around the'backs of the'formers bytheinfolding benders 58, and`59,' 59. The first of these is a singlebenderfpivoted on the back slide 60, at 6I, inpositio'n to engagethesingle-loop shown as confined inra guide'pas#V The- . Willie@ Yintheopenrrelation and, as engagement is ef- The three slides describedmay be all timed and Voperated from cams on the backrcam shaftofofthe-preformed 1ink;'

memberA I1, and the others Vare pivoted on the opposite side of theslide at 62, in position to engage Vthe double loopmembers 2li,V 20.These three benders maybe in the form of flat plates having leverageportions extended in interleaving rela-` tion toward the center of theslide and there providedwith rounded projections 63 and 64, 64,respectively,fonengagementwith a.L closing abutn'ient 65, on thebackofthe-post,4 j r j vvThe leverage extensions of the benders 58 and 59,are shown as engaged by spring plungers 66, and 61, to hold the sameopened to the extent perc niittedby stationary abutment shoulders 68,when th esl ide isretracted. Thus the back slide 60, achthe post withthese bending fingers fected'with the back of the forming post, willclose` these ngersto curl the loop forming portions to proper curvaturearound the back of the forms'l, 56, on the post.

r To direct the link; preformedto the extent illustrated 1 in Figs;2-"and4, that is, with-the cartridge: encircling tongues f I 1V and 26,20; curved to the proper radii but-connected `bya practically natbridgein tool widely separatedlrelation, from the upper level Fig. 9, down'tothelower level, a stationary guide `69,- Figsf 8' and 9, is providedbelow-the back Ytool'havingfla cavity 10,'i'n-its front face Lfshaped.to slidingly receive 'the inwardly curved-endz'portionsof thelink'tongues I1 and 20,20.`3Move1nentiof the flink Vfrom the upper tothe lower level is'positively effected-by a down'- wardly actingstripper 1I, which operates when theifront and back slides are retractedfullyA clear In passing from the upper to the lower level, theintermediate bridge portion 29,4 .then in the Y substantially flatformation shown in'Fig. 2, slides down over Vthe face of a narrowstationary forming post 12 at the front, `Fig. 8, yrounded tofthedesired final curvature of.v the bridge portion 29, shown in-Fig. 6. A f1 -1 Y A t this Vvlower leve1 position, the link, confined by guide 69,rests upon ajsupporting shelf 13, at the` .base of the guide cavity land'while' so positi0ned,the back tool 14, advances Ythrough the opening15, in the back of theV guide. This tool is forked to straddle, and toconform` to' the rounded face of the narrow post.. Theprojectingportions 16 and 11, at oppositefsides of the fork arepositioned to engage the single loop l11, andi'thedouble loops 2D,26,'vrespectively,to therebyjroll these forward to theirfin-al'closelyspaced relation at the sidesof the post; while the cavityof the fork is rounding' thebridge 29, over the rounded and more 'orVless bulbousnose portion ofthepost.,l 2 f a Y Inthis final formingoperationtheloops are carried forward over the concave side portions 18,19,'0f the post, in eectinteockingthe link over-the post. 'Y fToreleasethel link froml thispmomentarily interlocked engagement on theforminglfp'ost', Where; theangesglBrhave been carried ove'rthe upper andyloweredges ofthe part 83, 'one side'fof the post',' that'sis, the?part: designated',` 89, Fig,

is mounted on and carried by a lower pcrtio'nof the-front slide` 49;Vsaid: part being, thin' enough lto enter between `th'eflanges-or'flares" I8,` IB, on the arm I1, and having a narrow concave-sided :exe

tension' 8|, which slides inY the cavity 62, inftheV tool is putting thearch in the bridge and it is retracted in advance of the down stroke ofthe stripper l so as to be clear of the flanges or flares E8, i8, on thelink loop i?, when the link at the upper level comes down and forces thejust completed link ofi the stationary portion of the post at the lowerlevel. In the action of hinging the preformed loops back into theirfinal, closer relation, the ends oi the loops are carried clear of thesupporting step '13, Fig. 8.

The invention makes it possible to use the full width of the strip stockand while some scrap is unavoidable, the amount of such scrap may befurther reduced by shortening the pitch, as indicated in Fig. 13, thatis, by cutting the link blanks closer together, with the ilange portionsl8r, I8, of one blank closely adjoining the ends of the loop portionsEil, 2) oi the next blank and the end portion of a single loop l1, ofthe rst blank taken out from between the loop portions 20, 26 of thenext blank.

Certain advantages are attained in the present invention by flaring theblank in a preforming operation, instead of after forming up the loopsor ring-like members. The combined bending and flaring effected at thepreforming station, gives a desired stiffness to these finished portionsof the blank and gives the tools a better hold on the blank at the iinalforming station.

In addition to saving material, the utilization of the full width of thestrip gives the link the benefit of the more or less finished androunded edges of the strip. While shown extending only slightly over thesemi-circle in length, it will be appreciated that the loops may extendthe full circle and actually form complete rings. Other changes arepossible in the form of the link, the machine and the method, all withinthe scope of the present invention and the claims are to be construedaccordingly and the terms employed are to be considered generally in adescriptive rather than in a limiting sense.

In Fig. l2, there is shown a plunger 84, which can be projected by handinto guide passage 42, to act as a stop for the entering end of thestrip, thus to enable the machine to be started with the strip inposition where the scrap iirst produced will be so like that producedwhile the machine is running, that it will be disposed of in normalfashion and not cause any interference. This strip locating stop may bespring retracted to make sure that it will stand clear of the stock andonly come into effect when purposely actuated.

What is claimed is:

l. The method of manufacturing cartridge links from the full width ofstrip stock, which comprises slotting intermediate portions of the stripto outline along the center of the strip, a single intermediate tonguefor one blank and spaced end tongues along the extreme edges of thestrip, connected by a bridge portion across the center of the strip foran adjoining blank and a narrow intermediate connecting tie between theend of said single intermediate tongue of one blank and the bridgeportion connecting the end tongues of said adjoining blank, trimmingexcess intervening material between the intermediate tongue outlined forone blank, the end tongues of the adjoining blank and the narrow tieconnecting the blanks, severing the tie connecting the blanks, bendingthe tongues of the severed blank to cartridge embracing loop formation,by indentng the bridge portion of the severed blank in one direction andthen curling the ends of the tongues around in the same direction.

2. The method of manufacturing cartridge links from the full width ofstrip stock, which comprises slotting intermediate portions of the stripto outline along tne center of the strip, a single intermediate tonguefor one blank and spaced end tongues along the extreme edges of thestrip, connected by a bridge portion across the center of the strip foran adjoining blank and a narrow intermediate connecting tie between theend of said single intermediate tongue ofone blankand the bridge portionconnecting the end tongues of said adjoining blank, trimming excessintervening material between the intermediate tongue outlined for oneblank, the end tongues of the adjoining blank and the narrow tieConnecting the blanks, severing the tie connecting the blanks, bendingthe tongues of the severed blank to cartridge embracing loop formationand in said slotting operation, dening a flange along one edge of theintermediate tongue and in the course of such operations, flaring suchflange outwardly in respect to the loop formed by said tongue.

3. The method of manufacturing cartridge links from the full width ofstrip stock, which comprises slotting intermediate portions of the stripto outline along the center of the strip, a single intermediate tonguefor one blank and spaced end tongues along the extreme edges of thestrip, connected by a bridge portion across the center of the strip foran adjoining blank and a narrow intermediate connecting tie between theend of said single intermediate tongue of one blank and the bridgeportion connecting the end tongues of said adjoining blank, trimmingexcess intervening material between the intermediate tongue outlined forone blank, the end tongues of the adjoining blank and the narrow tieconnecting the blanks, severing the tie connecting the blanks, bendingthe tongues of the severed blank to cartridge embracing loop formationin two stages, rst with the loops curved to the proper radii but widelyspaced by the bridge and then bending the bridge to bring the loopscloser together into properly spaced relation.

4. The method of manufacturing cartridge links from the full width ofstrip stock, which comprises blanking out the central portion of thestrip in a single intermediate tongue for one blank, the extreme edgeportions of the strip in spaced end tongues of an adjoining blank and abridge connecting said tongues across the center of the strip and anarrow tie connecting said bridge portion with the end of saidintermediate tongue of the adjoining blank, severing said tie to freeone blank, preforming the blank left attached to the strip by archingand flaring the same immediately after such severance and completingformation of the severed blank by bending the tongues of the same incartridge embracing loops and on the radius of the arch and nareimparted thereto in the previous preforrning stage.

ALWYN E. BORTON.

